The trickiest part is getting the little star wheel off the shaft of the dist, and not losing the little round pin they use as a key. Most of the time if you get two large screwdrivers and put them on either side of the wheel, you can pry it up and off. Just make sure to keep track of the little pin.

The trickiest part is getting the little star wheel off the shaft of the dist, and not losing the little round pin they use as a key. Most of the time if you get two large screwdrivers and put them on either side of the wheel, you can pry it up and off. Just make sure to keep track of the little pin.

Then the pickup should unbolt and come out.

Thanks for your quick response Fraklin2,

Can you tell me if the stator needs to be changed as part of a good maintanance program?
Does this part wear out over time?

I looked for one online & their kind of pricy at around $50.00+ I have about 117,000 miles & don't think that part's ever been changed, it's mostley a magnet, right?

Thanks much Dave f,
Will replace roto/cap & spark plug wires with Motorcraft, the last time I changed the wires was 10 years ago 29,000 miles ago...(I know it's too long) I did change the rotor & cap much about three times...
I don't think this will resolve the surging/hessitation problem, but this time it's only Motorcraft parts

You would be surprised what they might do. If you have a 302, make sure you run #7 and #8 wires as far as possible from each other. These cylinders are side by side, and the natural thing to do is run the wires side by side, but they are close to each other in the firing order, and have been known to crossfire and cause a miss in the engine.

Will do!!!
What a guy...What a guy...what a forum, thank you,
I should have joined the day I got this heap, but still with all the problems it's given me I have to admit I love this van...It's like a dog that came from an abusive home

You would be surprised what they might do. If you have a 302, make sure you run #7 and #8 wires as far as possible from each other. These cylinders are side by side, and the natural thing to do is run the wires side by side, but they are close to each other in the firing order, and have been known to crossfire and cause a miss in the engine.

Hey there Franklin2,
I am buying the stator tommorow & having my mechanic friend pull the distributor out in order to replace it!!!

After all the GRAET help I got from ALL OF YOU GUYS the least I can do is post this link that explains what a bad stator can cause, we all seem to have the same type of issues so it would'nt hurt to test & or replace the stator.

My stator has never been changed as far as I know, so I think it's worth the effort, my distributor is in a 1986 Ford Econoline E-150 302 CID & I hope that my mechanic will have enough room to pull it out since my distributor is kind of below the dashboard..

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